Longwood Fire Company

-The Longwood Fire Company

The Longwood Firehouse was first built 1930 by Mr. Dupont. The firehouse was built to protect only the Longwood gardens. Later as the population grew, the firehouse began to respond to the community's fires as well. As the years went on, and the population around the Longwood Firehouse grew, so did the land the firehouse covered.

When first started the Longwood Firehouse, on average, would respond to 200 fires a year. Now the firehouse responds to around 1,000 fires per year. When the firehouse started kitchen fires were most common. Today the number one thing that starts fires are electrical problems. Technology has help in the prevention of fires more than it has caused fires. Fire alarms have been a big break-through in the fire fighting industry. New technology helps prevent fires involving circuit breakers, electrical systems, and many others. The one thing that helps prevent fires the most is the smoke detector. When the Longwood Firehouse started, not many homes had a smoke detector. As the threat of fires increased so did the homes with smoke detectors while the number of fires went down.

The Longwood Firehouse took no longer than any other building would have taken to build. The only difference is it is never, and will never be finished. The firehouse is constantly needing additions to keep up with the changing times and growing population. This firehouse has had more than four major additions. Just this past year a new garage was added to make more room.

The firehouse started responding to community fires with two main fire trucks and still does. All fire fighters are on call 24/7 so firefighters must be ready at all times. Firefighters carry around with them walkie-talkie that signifies them when a they are needed to tend to a fire. Firefighters also have an alarm that is set by their beds so if while they are sleeping they are needed they are woken up by the alarm. Most firefighters have their boots and outfit close to their beds so they will be ready to jump in their outfits and go to the station.

Brad Bowman, who is a chief at Longwood, said "Being a firefighter is enjoyable, fun and hard work. The experience is great", he says. "the connection you get with the fellow firefighters is like family. You work and play with them and risk your lives with them. There was a chief [at the Longwood Firehouse] while I was their. His name was Larry Greeley. He inspired so many people in and out of the firehouse. He was incredibly strong willed and just an all over happy man," said Brad Bowman. "Larry died of a heart attack at a very young age during a rescue. He will never be forgotten." Brad Bowman later addressed the September 11th attack. September 11th has made the firefighters at the firehouse realize the importance of their job. The firefighters are closer and more of a team now. Their job is more exciting and the firefighters are more cautious and nervous for their job. "It was all a shock," he says. "To see something so serious and so real happen so close to them and their hearts was just unbelievable."

Being a firefighter is a hard and dangerous job. Not only is it a job that saves lives but it also teaches skills needed in the real world. Firefighters learn how to be responsible and reliable to an amazing extent. Firefighters take unbelievable risks. Mark Knightly, a chief at the firehouse, tells us about an experience he had once. "I was walking through a fire and the floor beneath me collapsed. I fell and broke my leg in two places and got second degree burn on my back and neck. I had to spend weeks at home in bed."

The Longwood firehouse is a historical place in Kennett Square that has saved thousands of lives. Without the Longwood Firehouse our community would not be complete.